Wire-stretcher



(No Model.)

D. H. LUNN. WIRE STRETCHER.

No. 411,600. Patented $eptfi21fifl a2 29" I 13 2a 27 INVENTOH:

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UNITED STATES Fries.

PATENT.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,600, dated September 24, 1889.

Application filed May 7, 1889- SeIialNo. 309,898. (No model.)

To aZZ 2072 07)? it 772/602,] concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID l-I. LUNN, of Fern dale, in the county of Humboldt-an (1 State of California, have invented a new and I1nproved lVire-Stretcher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to that class of wirestretchers in which there is a frame adapted to be attached to afence-post, having a drum with a pawl-and-ratchet and lever operating mechanism, a wire-clamp for holding the end of a fence-wire, and a rope or chain connecting the wire-clamp with the drum and winding upon the latter, so that by rotating the drum the fence-wire may be drawn taut.

The invention has for its object to provide a wire-stretcher of the above-mentioned character which may be readily and securely atcached to a fence-post, and by means of which the end of a fence-Wire may be firmly held and the fence-wire elfectively drawn taut.

The invention consists in a wire-stretcher and in details thereof, constructed and arranged as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a wire fence, showing the invention in position for use. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the wire stretcher detached. Fig. 3 is a detail view thereof.

In the construction of this device, 1 indicates a plate of wood or metal adapted to lie against a fence-post 2, and having projections 3 on one edge, which lap against the adjacent side of the post 2 and serve to steady the The plate is provided on one side with a laterally-projecting arm 4, having a slot 5, in which is movably located a slotted bar (3, having pivoted to one end a lever 7, with a cam-shaped head 8, adapted to bear and wedge against one side of the arm 4, and having at its other end a retaining lug or lugs 9, with which a link of a chain 10 may be en gaged, the latterbeing connected to the plate 1 on the opposite side thereof.

The plate 1 is securely fastened to a fencepost 2 by the chain 10, passing around the post, extending through a slot 11 in the bar 6, projecting through the arm 4 and having a link engaging with the lugs Q. Mounted on one side of an enlargement 12 on the plate 1 are a lever 16 and a drum 13, having a ratchet 14, which is engaged by a spring-actuated retaining-pawl 15 on the side of plate 1, and by a pawl 17, carried by lever 16. The periphery of the drum 13 is grooved and one flange 30 thereof is cut away or slotted, as at 29. Adjacent to this slot, to an arm 31 is pivoted the clamping-lever 31, having a head to clamp the wire 19 firmly to the drum, the wire passing through said slot 29. By operating the lever 16 the Wire may be drawn taut.

18 indicates an extra clamp for holding and drawing the end of a fence-wire 19 in case a Wire should be too short to be clamped by the lever 31.

The wire-clamp 18 consists of a pair of arms 20, with cam-shaped heads 21, pivoted eccentrically to a cross-bar 22, connecting them together, one of the heads 21 having a lip or flange 23, which overlaps the other head 21 and serves to prevent the wire extending between the heads, 21 from slipping out laterally.

To the swinging ends of the arms 20 are pivotally connected a pair of rods 24, loosely connected to a ring 25, provided with a chain or rope 26, preferably connected by means of a snap-hook 27 with a ring 28 on the side of drum 29, whereby the rope 26 may be detached from drum 29.

In making a fence, therefore, if a wire is found to be too short to be clamped by lever 31, the rope 26 is brought through the slot 29 into the groove of the drum and the end of the wire is gripped by the clamp carried by said rope. The lever 16 is then operated to draw the rope around the drum, the rope instead of the wire being clamped by the lever 31.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A wire-stretcher consisting of a plate having a lateral slotted arm, a slotted bar proj ecting through the slotted arm, movable therein and having a retaining projection at one end, and a lever with a cam-shaped head pivoted to the other end, a securing-chain attached at one end to the plate and adapted to engage with the slotted bar by means of the retaining-catch 011 the said slotted bar, a drum mounted on the plate, with a ratchet,

an operating-lever, and retaining and operating pawls, a Wire-clamp for holding the end of a fenceavire, and a rope or chain connecting the Wire-clamp with the drum and adapted to wind on the latter, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a Wire-stretcher, a plate to rest against a fence-post, having a lateral slotted arm, a slotted bar projecting through the lateral slotted arm, movable therein and having a retaining-catch on one end and a lever with a cam-shaped head pivoted to the other end, a chain for securing the plate to a fence-post, attached at one end to the plate and adapted to engage with the slotted bar by means of the retaining-catch on the end of said slotted bar, and a Winding-drum with a ratchet and operating lever and pawl and a retainingpawl mounted on the plate substantially as shown and described.

cam-shaped head 32, wedging against drum 13, the ratchet l4, operating-lever 16, operatin awl17 and retainin aWl15 en a in a 7 D 9 D b b ratchet 14, substantially as shown and described. v

DAVID H. LUNN. Vitnesses:

P. T. HART,

S. K. FARLEY. 

